John J. Goot

Goot, John J. COHOES John Goot passed away at age 91. He was predeceased by his parents, Pavel and Agata Bargiel Gut, who emigrated from Poland, and by his beloved wife of 54 years, Jacqueline (Fafard) Goot. He was devoted father to Bob Goot and Linda (Alan Roth) Goot. He was brother to Statia Goot and predeceased by Sophie (Eugene) LaRochelle, Edward (Helen) Goot, and William Gut. He was brother-in-law to Dennis (Anne, deceased) Fafard and Leopold (Marilyn) Fafard, and prececeased by Brigitte (Marcel) Isabelle, and Raymond (Patricia) Fafard. John is survived by caring friends, nephews, nieces, and cousins, and his longtime hunting and fishing partner, nephew Joseph Goot. John was a lifelong Cohoes resident. He grew up enduring hard the 'Great Depression' and was educated at St. Michael and Cohoes High schools. John enjoyed all sports and loved the wild outdoors. As a child, he hunted, fished, and explored the rivers of his city, and as an adult enjoyed hunting and fishing into his mid 80s with the Adirondack Mt. Minerva Ridge Runners sportsman club. He truly cherished, year round, ADK's big woods and small waters. John was a retired Army National Guard master sergeant and a 27th Infantry Division World War II veteran. He served on many Pacific islands, earned four campaign service stars, and was wounded twice in brutal combat in the island battle of Saipan with 27th, 105th Regiment, and in the battle of Okinawa with 106th Regiment, noted in Ken Burns film "World War II." John was honored with the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, New York State Conspicuous Service Star, and New York State Conspicuous Service Cross medals, many war service medals, and the Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation. This was awarded for 105th Regiment's heroic Saipan stand from Japan's largest war mass assault when thousands attacked hundreds in the 105th, but were repelled with high casualties on both sides. Sgt. Goot fought defensive actions with 105th B Company in this ferocious attack, protecting wounded GIs by his expert rifle firing. After five years, John returned home to rejoin the Army National Guard, rising to Cohoes 105th B Company's highest noncommissioned officer of first sergeant to lead and train B Company's soldiers. Through his 22-year Army career, John rated as a marksman, sharpshooter, and expert for many firearms, and he excelled in M1 rifle long-range competition shooting. "The War" and and John's brothers-in-arms were always on his mind. For decades, since "The War's" end, Cohoes B Company's World War II heroes met for monthly breakfast to renew their brotherhood, ending with the last group of "Spike" Mailloux, John Sidur, Donald Trudeau and John meeting at Babe's diner in Cohoes. John was a former member of Cohoes St. Michael and St Joseph parish men's clubs, American Legion, VFW, and Tibbit's Cadets, supporting years of church, school, and city activities. John and his dear wife Jackie worked 10 years to restore the oldest home in the south Cohoes district, the mid-1860s Victorian home on George Street, and spark neighborhood revitalization. He also helped build family houses and with many homecare projects. John's energetic lifestyle was full of wonderful times with his wife and children, with many weekend outings, often with other family and friends. John worked 34 years with the New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs armory building operations in Troy, Albany and Cohoes. In the 1960s he was a civil service employee association leader to unionize and represent armory staff. In retirement, John and Jackie enjoyed wintering in south Florida. In New York and Florida he enjoyed family gatherings, avid reading, home upkeep, tree planting, gardening, hunting, fishing, baseball games, horse racing, and travel vacations with Jackie. In John's last years, he bravely kept positive despite declining health and actively made the most of each day. His family is most grateful to all his many health care providers, especially all at Rubin Dialysis in Troy. In a good, long life as a true contributor to our "Greatest Generation" and an American hero, John shared his commitment, giving, sacrifice, fairness, frankness, and hard work. We dearly remember his devoted loving care to his wife and children, his appreciation of family and friends, his love of both work and play, his respect for history and community, and his strong convictions. All are welcome to honor and remember John at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Ltd., 105 Vliet Blvd. in Cohoes on Wednesday, November 6, from 4 to 7 p.m. Funeral from the funeral home Thursday at 8:30 a.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St Michael's Church at 9 a.m. on Thursday, November 7, 2013 with interment with military honors immediately following at St. Joseph's Cemetery, Waterford.